Dredging machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. BALL.

* DREDGING MACHINE.

No. 530,675. Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

Willi!!! m a Z (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. BALL. DREDGING MACHINE.

No. 530,675 Pa tentd Dec. 11, 1 94..

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. A. BALL.

DREDGING MACHINE. No. 530,675. Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

Fig.3.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. A. BALL DREDGING MAGHINE.

Patented Dec. 11, 1894'.

P l u l aw E U n I d In: Norms PEYERS c0 PHOYQLITHOQ WMINOION, n. c.

UNITED ST TES" JOHN'A. BALL, OF GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

i PATENT OFFicE.

DREDGlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,675, dated December 11, 1894.

Application filed February 11, 1892 Serial No. 421,156. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grass Valley, in the county of Nevada and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredging-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to apparatus for dredging and excavating material to form channels, canals, &c., of proper depth, and for elevating or conveying such dredged or exca- Vated material above the water, and discharging and conveying it to any desired point of delivery near or remote from the location from whence it was taken.

Myinvention belongs principally to the class of dredging apparatus knownas chain and bucket dredgers, in which the endless chains and buckets, continuously drivenby'suitable machinery and carried by 'a hull having a side sweep or oscillation, cuts'the material, carries it above the water, and discharges "it into or upon some form of a'conveyer.

My present invention relates particularly, first, to improvements in the means for imparting to the hull of the dredge, and the endless chain and bucket or 'any'other excavating device carriedjby it, the necessary side sweep or oscillation, as well as the forward movement required as thework progresses, secondly, in the novel andimproved means for supporting and adjusting the chain of buckets; thirdly, in a new and improved apparatus, to which the excavated material is delivered from the buckets, and by which it is discharged at any point near or remote; fourthly, to certain improvements in the buckets themselves, and their attachment to the endless traveling chain; finally, to various details of construction, which need not be ,particularlyspecified here, but which are fully hereinafter described, and claimed, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which like letters represent like parts.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a longitudinal section taken centrally through the hull of the dredge. Fig.2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is a side view of two of the buckets on an enlarged scale showing their connection to the chain, at the upper sprocket wheel. Fig. 5 is a front view of one face of the excavation.

of the buckets. Fig. 6 is-a plan View of the chain. Fig. 7 is a side view of a part of the carrier or draper, the track supportingit, and one of the sprocket wheels. Fig. 8 is aplan view of the carrier or 'draper. broken longitudinal section of the chain which supports the draper. Fig. 10, is a detail view showing one pair of the channel tracks for the endless chains.

In the drawings, A represents the hull of the dredge and the line 03-00 the water line. The depth of the water,and the face of the excavation being made, are plainly'shown in Fig. 1, where the buckets are represented as working upon and up an incline from which they cut slides of the earth or material and discharge them, while the hull of the dredge the chains and their buckets pass downward. empty and upward loaded.

The engine is indicated at O and may be of any ordinary construction capable of affording power enough to operate the dredging apparatus, and the delivery apparatus, and give the hull the required side sweep or oscillation across the channel while the dredge is at work.

'The hullA has above it, and carried by it,

suitable uprights and cross-beams to properly support all the working parts. At one end the hull is cut away centrally, to form the wellB (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) for the reception of the adjusting ladders F and G which ladders, together with the hoist H, support and adj ust the face-ladder E relatively to the The said face ladder is constructed and intended for the support of the chains and buckets while on their up-.

ward course only, and not for their support both downward and upward as in the com mon use of endless chain andbucket ladder supporting frames. Therefore I use the term face ladder instead of ladder simply, in describing this part of my invention and in setting forth my claims to the same. By this construction I accomplish my object, which is to provide means by which the buckets may begin to cut and fill at the bottom of the Fig. 9 is a" roo excavation, cutting thin strips from off the surface of the excavation for the whole distance from the bottom to the top; and by which the buckets continue on their round as hereinafter described so as to deliver the material at or near the central point of oscillation and to any desired height. It is more practical to connect pipes or carriers for conveying the material to the shore, at a point on the dredge near the center of oscillation,than at a point on the dredge distant from it.

The face ladder is composed of angle and channel iron of sufficient strength to carry the chain and buckets, and bear the strain caused by the buckets cutting the material. On the under side of the face ladder are channel tracks similar to those described in my Patent No. 299,945, dated June 10, 1884, and as shown in Fig. 10, which carry the chains and buckets upon the wheels 1, within said channel upward.

The chains are carried on the wheels 1 within said chains, upon and through the channel tracks, which sustain the buckets and thus cause them to travel on their proper course in a rigid manner. The endless chains referred to, are extended over the sprocket wheels 2 which are fast on a driven shaft 4; and the chains carrying the buckets, pass downward from said sprocket wheels upon stationary tracks 5 composed of angle iron which are bolted to the frame on the dredge, these tracks terminating near the well B. As the buckets come to the lower end of the face ladder where they begin to cut the material, the chains run through the channel tracks 6 before mentioned, shown in Fig. 10, and thence over the spools or flanged wheels, 31, at the upper end of the face ladder and on to the upper adjusting ladder F, said two ladders being pivoted together at 7. The chains are carried through similar channel tracks attached to the upper adjusting ladder F. From thence the chains are carried over the said upper stationary tracks to the sprocket or driving wheels. At the point where the upper adjusting ladder F and upper station ary tracks 8 join, is a suitable device, such as screw 9 for moving outward or inward and withholding the adjusting ladder for the purpose of regulating the tension of the chains, and to lower or raise the upper end of the face ladder.

The lower adjusting ladder G has no tracks attached to it, and is only used to regulate the depth of the excavation by raising or lowering the rear and lower end of the face ladder, which may be done by any other mechanical means, but preferably by a rack on the ladder, and pinions on a supported cross-shaft 10 driven preferably by a worm gear. (Not shown.) Any other mechanical means may be used by which the chains and buckets may be carried over or around spools or guides, was to pass around the same course from the lower to the upper end of the face ladder, and yet be within the scope of my invention. As the chains and buckets thus traverse the above described round, the buckets cut or plane 0E the material from the inclined surface of the excavation, each bucket commencing to cut and fill at the bottom of the excavation and ending at the top. The material falls loosely into the buckets and is elevated to and over in to the hopper 11, or upon a chute or carrier. As shown it is delivered upon an improved draper or carrier I, to be hereinafter described.

The principal advantages gained by this improved face-ladder is that the excavation is made complete from bottom to the top of the excavation without requiring the raising or lowering of the excavatingapparatus while the channel tracks provide for the buckets, edge or share to pass rigidly upon their proper course. It also completes the full desired width of the channel. It likewise also provides for adjusting the said excavating apparatus, so as to plane or cut from the face of the excavation at any desired incline, at the sides of, or at the face of the channel.

The bridge frame D, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is a transverse structure resting, when not anchored, upon the hull of the dredge and pivotally attached to it. To the bridge frame, are attached rollers or wheels which roll upon tracks, 12 and 13 fastened to the deck of the hull and which carries the weight of said bridge frame, allowing it to oscillate upon the king bolt or pivot 14..

When the machine is at work, and is being swung from one side of the channel to the other, the spuds 15, 15 at the opposite ends of the frame are let down through eyelets 16 16 attached to the bridge frame. Said spuds are thrust down into the bed of the channel, and anchor the said bridge frame so that the hull of the dredge, being pivotally attached to said bridge frame, is left to swing freely about the king bolt; and I efiect the regulation of this oscillation of the hull of the dredge in the followingdesoribed manner: As best shown in Fig. 2, a chain or rope 17 is attached to the sides of the hull by the eyebolt 18 and passes in a groove to and around a gipsy 19, and thence to eyebolt 20 where the other end of the chain is fastened to the hull.

The said gipsy 19 is attached to the bridge frame, and its shaft is made to turn either way in the application of power so as to draw on one or the other of said eyebolts, causing the hull to swing one way or the other upon said king bolt at the will of the operator.

Any other known mechanical means may be used to swing the dredge from side to side from the bridge-frame to which it. is pivotally attached, and yet be within the limits of my invention.

When the dredge has been made to swing across from one side of the channel to the other, it is necessary to advance forward on the excavation for a new out, before commencing to swing back across the channel again. To accomplish this operation I oper IIO ate the screw device 28 so as to bring one of the auxiliary spuds 21 '(whose supporting frames 29 are pivotally attached near. the king bolt), as near the bridge spud on the side to which the dredge has swung, as practical, thrust it into the earth, and raise the bridge spud out of its anchorage; then, reverse the screw device 28, was to separate the said two spuds. The auxiliary spud being thrust into the mud and the bridge spud raised, will cause that end of the bridge-frame to swing forward, pivotally on the other bridge spud,

and to whatever distance it is so brought for ward, it carries the dredge, bodily, by the king-bolt just half the distance; the said operation being at the command of the operator. The auxiliary spuds may be both acted upon at the same time (simultaneously) and any other known mechanical means may be employed to operate said auxiliary spuds attached to said bridge-frame and be withinthe scope of my invention. The machine is thus brought forward the desired distance for effecting another out upon the excavation.

As the machine sweeps or swings to the other side, and has made its out across the channel, the same manipulation repeated, moves the machine forward again.

To raise and lower the spuds, I prefer to use the devices shown in my Patent, No. 299,945, dated June 10, 1884, and I derive the power to do so, and to drive the said gipsy and draper, or carrier, hereinafter described, from the engine O in the hull.

From the engine shaft, which is shown to.

be horizontal, a cog wheel meshes into the lower wheel on the vertical shaft 22, thence to the horizontal shaft 23 by gearing such as shown. At the end of shaft 23 nearest to the king bolt is the miter wheel, which meshesinto another miter wheel 24, the latter wheel being loose upon the said king bolt or shaft, collars being securely fastened on said king bolt or shaft, above and below the said miter wheel 24. Miterwheel 24 meshes into miter wheel 25, which is'fastened to horizontal shaft 26. The shaft 26 is supported by a bridge frame and from it, the power can be transferred by belts :or by shafting and gearing as may be desired, by any well known mechanical means. The said bridge frame may be floated or carried partially or wholly upon scows or boats situated at each side of and separate from the hull of the dredge, andsuch would be within the limits of my invention.

The improved draper or carrier I shown in Figs. 7, 8 and. 9, is carried by sprocket wheels 32 with the chains 33 and 34. The sprocket wheels are on a horizontal shaft, one of them, preferably, exactly over the king bolt and may be supported by any suitable frame work. In Fig. 8 it is shown that the links of the carrier chains from one joint to another are duplicates and each link is composed of two separate parts 35 and 36 riveted together at their ends at each joint by rivets 37; Within each link is a wheel 38 which runs on a steel rod 39 surrounded by a hollow pipe 40 said rod being thrust through holes in the sides of the links so as to reach through from one outside face to the other.

In each link and alongside of the steel rods 39 just described is another rod 42 of the same construction, except that it does not extend through to the outside faces of said chains, as it would obstruct the wheel from turning. while the carrier is in operation; but said steel rod 42 can be pushed through any of said wheels while at rest, there being openings in them for that purpose. It will be observed that said hollowpipes on the two rods of each section of the chains are alike, and the steel rods differ only in respect to length.

A piece of canvas, rubber belting, sheet iron sup port for the pocket is made at the two sides and at the two ends. When one of these buckets or pockets is broken, a new one may be put into its place, without disconnecting the said endless belt or chain carrier, by removing the pipes with the material composing the buckets or pockets and byreplacing other pipes with the pockets already attached.

In Fig. 9, 45 represents a strip of wood, which rests upon the two rods and their hollow pipes across the carrier from one chain to the other, being secured in place preferably by bolts connecting it with the leg or piece 43 upon each side, the means of attachment not being shown in the figure at each end. This strip is to cover, and prevent the dirt from getting between the hollow pipes, while each forms the edge of a section or pocket. A draper or carrier of this construction may be lengthened to as many such sections as maybe necessary; It may be driven by power applied by any mechanical means, as by a belt upon pulleys 46.

I have devised novel means for attaching the bucket of the dredging apparatus to the endless chains. (Shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) Fig.4 represents the position of the chains passing over the sprocket wheels, which is bucket attached to the chains, the hangers 47 being firmly attached to the bucket of its forward end. In Fig. 4 the hangers 48 at the aft end of the bucket is a pivot link, one end of which is sustained bythe steel rod 49 passing through it andthe other end on to a trun nion 50 which is fastened to the side of the bucket. This link is employed to keep the bucket from being cramped by the chain while passing over the sprocket wheels. It also, when being at the aft end of the bucket, serves to push the aft end of the bucket outward when passing around a curve and therefore adjusts-the bucket cutting edge to its proper, and the same angle to the face of the excavation, as when the chains are passing on a straight line.

What I claim is 1. In a dredging apparatus, a swinging hull carrying dredging machinery, in combination with an anchored bridge frame to which said hull is pivotally connected, substantially as set forth.

2. In a dredging apparatus, a swinging hull carrying dredging machinery, in combination with an anchored bridge frame to which said hull is pivotally connected, and means substantially as described for swinging thehull upon said pivot.

3. In a dredging apparatus, a hull carrying dredging machinery, an independent bridge frame pivotally connected to the hull and anchored at each side of the hull by removable spuds, in combination with two auxiliary spud frames pivoted at their inner ends at or near the center of oscillation, and means for bringing pressure to bear upon either auxiliary spud frame, and thereby cause one end of the bridge frame and the hull bodily, to move forward.

4. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a hull, a bridge frame having anchoring spuds, and pivotally connected to the hull, a wheel or gipsy on the bridge frame,

turning said wheel in either direction and thereby causing the hull to swing laterally independently of the anchored bridge frame, substantially as set forth.

5. An endless chain and bucket dredging mechanism mounted upon a sweeping or oscillating support, and an inclined face ladder combined with rigid channel tracks, rollers or wheels within the chains arranged to run in the channel tracks whereby said buckets are held to the work rigidly, and directed in a right line against vertical and lateral yielding, substantially as described.

6. In a dredging machine an endless carrier, comprising the endless chains composed of divided links, transverse rods connecting the two chains and extending to the outside faces thereof, wheels jou rnaled upon the rods between the arms of the divided links, and carrying sections secured to the rods, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of December, 1891.

JOHN A. BALL. Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, JOHN COFFEE. 

